National Care Standards Review

Chief Executive Karen Reid welcomes Scottish Government’s public consultation on the new National Health and Care Standards for health, social care, social work, community justice and early learning and childcare. It is important that people across Scotland have their say and help shape the future of health and care.

The Care Inspectorate and Healthcare Improvement Scotland, along with people using services, care service providers, commissioners and other interested parties, have been developing Scotland's new National Health and Care Standards.

This involves you! Help us to develop the new standards and shape the future of health and social care in Scotland – for you, your friends, family and people who use registered care services.

Unlike the existing standards which date from 2002, the new draft standards do not just apply to regulated services but are for all health and social care services. That means they cover the planning, assessment, commissioning, and delivery of care from the perspective of the person using care.

Karen Reid said: “People’s individual needs should be at the heart of high-quality, compassionate care. The new standards will help make sure that people can use the highest quality of care, promoting their human rights and enhancing their wellbeing. I believe these draft standards are truly radical, really focus on improving outcomes, and have the potential to reduce health and social inequality.

“We will be changing all our inspections in the future to respond to these new standards, ensuring we can support improvement where that is needed. The Care Inspectorate and Healthcare Improvement Scotland have worked closely, along with many other people and organisations, to develop these drafts. I strongly welcome the fact they are for a wide range of care and encourage everyone to have their say.”